Good morning, 

Should Texans’ jobs be protected if they refuse to get a COVID vaccine? That’s a question GOP voters will be asked on the March 1 primary ballot, and it is the question we’re asking in the One Click Survey.

You’ll find that at the end of today's Texas Minute.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Tuesday, January 18, 2022
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Illegal Crossings: Destruction And Danger

• On 8,000 acres of rugged, desert-like, thorny, brush-covered land abutting the Anacacho Mountains, rancher Cole Hill spent most of last year chasing illegal border crossers off his property and fixing the destruction they leave in their wake—broken fences, busted water lines, trash everywhere, and blatant, unashamed breaking and entering.
      

• Hill and his fellow Kinney County ranchers are chafing at the injustices allowed by the federal and even the state government. “It really doesn’t feel good when you’re just getting trampled on on a daily basis by illegals, who are criminals by definition, not including whatever type of criminal records they actually have,” said Hill.
   

• Sydnie Henry reports on the destruction – and danger – that property owners deal with as a result of the illegal alien crisis at the border.

Austin Requires Businesses To Post Mask And Vax Policies

• Austin Mayor Steve Adler has imposed a new mandate on local businesses: owners must post two new signs on their doors, or face a criminal offense and potential $1,000 fine. Jacob Asmussen has the details.
   
• The signage relates to each individual business’ mask and vaccine policies.

• One required sign reads, “Help us keep employees safe! Local health officials recommend that you: Wear a Mask; Vaccinate and get boosted against COVID-19.”
     
• The other sign is a “checklist” of what is – or is not – required for entry into the specific business for customers and employees.
     
• But a spokesman for Gov. Greg Abbott says businesses can disregard the mayor’s command, based on the governor’s (generally ignored) executive orders.
     
• Greg Sindelar of the Austin-based Texas Public Policy Foundation isn’t impressed: “Throughout the pandemic, the city of Austin’s response has been either an unlawful overreach, a violation of our individual rights, or inconsistent enforcement of unreasonable regulations. City leaders always go too far in limiting our freedoms causing frustration and confusion with no measurable health benefit. A better approach would be to trust Texans to look out for one another and make the best decisions for themselves and their families.”
      
• With that first sign, it seems like the City of Austin is compelling the businesses to promote the city’s political preferences… And on the second sign, the limited “answers” the business owner gives seems intended to validate only certain choices. For example, how does a business communicate that they require employees to be masked but not customers?​

Congressional Primary Debate Focuses On Absent Incumbent

• GOP primary challengers focused on attacking the absent incumbent, U.S. Rep. Van Taylor, in a congressional candidate forum hosted by the Collin County Republican Party this weekend. Erin Anderson has the details.
      
• Once a favorite of conservatives in Collin County, Taylor is now facing four rivals challenging him from the right in Texas’ 3rd Congressional District. His challengers are Suzanne Harp, Jeremy Ivanovskis, Keith Self, and Rickey Williams.
      

• All four said that, unlike Taylor, they would have voted against both certifying the November 2020 electoral votes and forming the January 6 Commission.
       

• “The January 6 Commission is now being used to intimidate the rest of conservatives across the nation” from exercising their 1st Amendment rights, said Self.
      

• Other concerns included Taylor aligning with Democrats as part of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, and frustrations he relocated his family to the D.C. area (though he maintains a home in the district).
   
• Party Chairman Abraham George said Taylor declined an invitation to the forum due to the ongoing House session in Washington, D.C. Yet, according to the U.S. House calendar, there was no legislative activity or committee business slated January 13 through January 18.

Huffines Reports Raising $12 Million For Run

• With the campaign finance reports owed to the state today, Republican gubernatorial candidate Don Huffines released his data yesterday. His campaign reports it has raised $12 million. Sydnie Henry has the details.
       
• “Grassroots Texans across the state are hungry for leadership and a conservative Republican who will actually secure the Texas Border, stop vaccine mandates, and restore confidence in our elections,” said Huffines.
      
• Last summer, when reports were last due, Gov. Greg Abbott reported having $55 million in cash on hand last July.
       
• Keep up with all the latest news and information about the 2022 governor’s race by visiting the Decision Texas section of TexasScorecard.com.

‘Florida, America’s New Texas’

• An article in yesterday’s Newsweek was titled, “Ron DeSantis Welcomes You to Florida, America's New Texas.”
       
• “For conservatives all over the world, Texas has long been something of a promised land, boasting decades of government policy hospitable to freedom and the kind of straight-talking, kind people who'd greet you warmly even on a busy street. It's a place well-known for a rugged toughness, an embrace of tradition and a fearless independent streak,” wrote David Reaboi of the Claremont Institute. “Considering also the romantic notions that have attached to that state since films began to romanticize the Wild West over the last century, it's remarkable that Texas' once-nonpareil position in the conservative imagination has been displaced so quickly—and by a place that was long thought of as a blue-leaning swing state.”

ONE CLICK SURVEY

The March 1, 2022, GOP Primary ballot will feature a series of policy-related non-binding positions placed there by the State Republican Executive Committee. One of those questions focuses on funding education. Each is phrased as a statement and the ballot allows you to vote “yes” or “no,” indicating your agreement or disagreement with the position.

How will you vote on this one?

“Texans should not lose their job nor students be penalized for declining a COVID-19 vaccine.”

Once you’ve clicked an answer, reply to this email with any thoughts you’d like to share!